Larry Burrow's photographs of the Vietnam War work in a way to show the general public how intense and gruesome the war really was. His photo's also have a subtext of raising support for the troops. For instance, these photographs have a similar denotation of action shots showing intensity, gruesomeness, fear, panic, horror, etc.
Rhetor Using Image 1
Larry Burrows was one of the most famed war photographers in his time and many have called him the most brave photographer as well. He had a reputation of being daring and getting right into the action. The first photograph of the AC-47 Tracer Fire out of a helicopter is a prime example of his bravery. Looking at the angle of the photo, there is only one way he could have gotten this; by hanging out of the door of the helicopter. Context Using All Images
Looking at all three images below, it is fair to say that the audience of Larry Burrows photographs are people who weren't involved in the war and for people who want to know what was going on during the war. As an audience then and now, the photos reveal just how intense, gruesome, and violent the Vietnam War really was. Burrows took mostly action shots of the war because he wanted his audience to see the terror, urgency, and valor that were on the men's faces during battle. Logos Using All Images
Some of the more prominent logical questions that come to mind when looking at the three photos below are:
"Why were we in a war that was so gruesome and killed so many men?"
"Why would we put so much time and money into this war that really didn't produce much more than just dead people?" Ethos Using All Images
Some ethical questions that come about when looking at these photographs are (with some pretty clear answers as well):
"Is it ethical to be in a war when nothing much will come about it? More importantly, is it ethical to waste hundreds of thousands of lives on such a war?"
"Is it ethical to even show these pictures to the public? Some are gruesome and so powerful that maybe the public shouldn't see them"
(Specifically the bottom picture) "Is it ethical to be tying up the Vietnamese people and threatening them with knives?" Pathos Using All Images
Emotional questions that come to mind are:
"How do we as Americans feel about being involved in such a gruesome war? Does it make us feel powerful to kill all of these people? Does it make us feel weak for having hundreds of thousands of Americans dying in this war?"
"Why are we risking the lives of innocent people for this war?"
2-10-2012 1) AC-47 Tracer Fire- This picture is showing American troops firing an AC-47 out of a helicopter...Larry Burrows must have been hanging out of the door to get the shot. This picture is from the Vietnam war and looks it be almost night time, perhaps so they can catch the Vietnamese off guard.
2) One Ride With Yankee Papa One Three (YP-13)- Larry Burrows was assigned to fly with the crew of YP-13 and was recorded that they "flew into the mouth of hell" that day. This is just one of the pictures taken from that flight, it shows one of the gunman from the aircraft dead from being shot. It became the cover of LIFE magazine for the month of April.
3) Untitled- This picture shows an American soldier raising his knife at a Vietnamese prisoner. If you look closely, you can see that is at least one other prisoner tied to the one being shown. This photo may be staged but my guess is that it is not. It was a vicious war. Also, looking more closely at the knife, it is actually a bayonnet that he probably took off of his gun. There is no way to tell if the boy/man in the picture is a villager or part of the Vietnamese army.
Tarby Rough Draft 2-29-12
Preliminary Thesis
Larry Burrow's photographs of the Vietnam War work in a way to show the general public how intense and gruesome the war really was. His photo's also have a subtext of raising support for the troops. For instance, these photographs have a similar denotation of action shots showing intensity, gruesomeness, fear, panic, horror, etc.
Standards and Trends
02-16-2012
Rhetor Using Image 1
Larry Burrows was one of the most famed war photographers in his time and many have called him the most brave photographer as well. He had a reputation of being daring and getting right into the action. The first photograph of the AC-47 Tracer Fire out of a helicopter is a prime example of his bravery. Looking at the angle of the photo, there is only one way he could have gotten this; by hanging out of the door of the helicopter.
Context Using All Images
Looking at all three images below, it is fair to say that the audience of Larry Burrows photographs are people who weren't involved in the war and for people who want to know what was going on during the war. As an audience then and now, the photos reveal just how intense, gruesome, and violent the Vietnam War really was. Burrows took mostly action shots of the war because he wanted his audience to see the terror, urgency, and valor that were on the men's faces during battle.
Logos Using All Images
Some of the more prominent logical questions that come to mind when looking at the three photos below are:
"Why were we in a war that was so gruesome and killed so many men?"
"Why would we put so much time and money into this war that really didn't produce much more than just dead people?"
Ethos Using All Images
Some ethical questions that come about when looking at these photographs are (with some pretty clear answers as well):
"Is it ethical to be in a war when nothing much will come about it? More importantly, is it ethical to waste hundreds of thousands of lives on such a war?"
"Is it ethical to even show these pictures to the public? Some are gruesome and so powerful that maybe the public shouldn't see them"
(Specifically the bottom picture) "Is it ethical to be tying up the Vietnamese people and threatening them with knives?"
Pathos Using All Images
Emotional questions that come to mind are:
"How do we as Americans feel about being involved in such a gruesome war? Does it make us feel powerful to kill all of these people? Does it make us feel weak for having hundreds of thousands of Americans dying in this war?"
"Why are we risking the lives of innocent people for this war?"
2-10-2012
1) AC-47 Tracer Fire- This picture is showing American troops firing an AC-47 out of a helicopter...Larry Burrows must have been hanging out of the door to get the shot. This picture is from the Vietnam war and looks it be almost night time, perhaps so they can catch the Vietnamese off guard.
2) One Ride With Yankee Papa One Three (YP-13)- Larry Burrows was assigned to fly with the crew of YP-13 and was recorded that they "flew into the mouth of hell" that day. This is just one of the pictures taken from that flight, it shows one of the gunman from the aircraft dead from being shot. It became the cover of LIFE magazine for the month of April.
3) Untitled- This picture shows an American soldier raising his knife at a Vietnamese prisoner. If you look closely, you can see that is at least one other prisoner tied to the one being shown. This photo may be staged but my guess is that it is not. It was a vicious war. Also, looking more closely at the knife, it is actually a bayonnet that he probably took off of his gun. There is no way to tell if the boy/man in the picture is a villager or part of the Vietnamese army.